This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-39971237

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Sydney siege: Families criticise 'outrageous' police tactics Sydney siege: Families criticise 'outrageous' police tactics
(about 5 hours later)
The families of two hostages who died in the Sydney cafe siege have criticised police over their handling of the incident. Relatives of two hostages who died in the Sydney siege have criticised police over their handling of the incident.
In December 2014, self-styled Islamist Man Haron Monis held 18 people hostage inside a Lindt cafe in the city centre.In December 2014, self-styled Islamist Man Haron Monis held 18 people hostage inside a Lindt cafe in the city centre.
Heavily armed police stormed the building 17 hours later after Monis shot cafe manager Tori Johnson.Heavily armed police stormed the building 17 hours later after Monis shot cafe manager Tori Johnson.
Relatives of Mr Johnson and Katrina Dawson, who was also killed, said police had put their lives in danger. A subsequent inquest was on Sunday labelled a "witch hunt" by the police union, but victims' families said police tactics had put lives in danger.
The families said they were shocked by revelations at an inquest that police had planned to intervene only if the gunman killed or injured someone. The relatives said they were shocked by revelations that police had planned to intervene only if the gunman killed or injured someone.
"I'll never be able understand how you can make a calculated decision that you wait for someone to die," Mr Johnson's mother, Rosie Connellan, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC). "I'll never be able understand how you can make a calculated decision that you wait for someone to die," Mr Johnson's mother, Rosie Connellan, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC) in a programme to be broadcast on Monday.
New South Wales coroner Michael Barnes will hand down his findings into the 18-month inquest on Wednesday.New South Wales coroner Michael Barnes will hand down his findings into the 18-month inquest on Wednesday.
Monis was shot dead by police during the raid, while Ms Dawson, a barrister and cafe customer, was killed by stray bullet fragments fired by police. Monis was shot dead by police during the raid, while another hostage, Katrina Dawson, was killed by stray bullet fragments fired by police.
The inquest aimed to establish whether deaths were avoidable and if it should have been treated as a terrorist event.The inquest aimed to establish whether deaths were avoidable and if it should have been treated as a terrorist event.
How the Sydney siege unfoldedHow the Sydney siege unfolded
In depth: Timeline of eventsIn depth: Timeline of events
Ms Dawson's family said the police tactics were "outrageous". Relatives of Ms Dawson, a barrister and cafe customer, said the police tactics were "outrageous".
"The idea that we had to wait for somebody to be killed or seriously injured before the police would act was staggering," her brother, Angus Dawson, told the ABC as part of a documentary to be aired on Monday. "The idea that we had to wait for somebody to be killed or seriously injured before the police would act was staggering," her brother, Angus Dawson, told the ABC.
The barrister's mother, Jane Dawson, said: "They should be saving them from death or serious injury."The barrister's mother, Jane Dawson, said: "They should be saving them from death or serious injury."
Mr Johnson's partner, Thomas Zinn, said he had lost faith in police because of their "great level of incompetence" during the incident.Mr Johnson's partner, Thomas Zinn, said he had lost faith in police because of their "great level of incompetence" during the incident.
It is the first time the families have publicly criticised police, aside from when Mr Johnson's parents stormed out of the inquest during one testimony.It is the first time the families have publicly criticised police, aside from when Mr Johnson's parents stormed out of the inquest during one testimony.
However, New South Wales Police Association acting chief Tony King said the inquest had scrutinised police officers "as if they were on trial".
"For some lawyers the focus appeared to be not just to attribute blame but moral culpability, twisting words to belittle experienced officers," he wrote in a long post on Medium.
Mr King said they should instead be thanked for putting their lives on the line.
Questions about why police snipers did not attempt to shoot Monis were heavily discussed during the inquest.Questions about why police snipers did not attempt to shoot Monis were heavily discussed during the inquest.
A police commander in charge of the operation had previously said the siege had the hallmarks of a domestic incident rather than terrorism, despite the fact that Monis asked to be given a flag of the so-called Islamic State (IS) militant group.A police commander in charge of the operation had previously said the siege had the hallmarks of a domestic incident rather than terrorism, despite the fact that Monis asked to be given a flag of the so-called Islamic State (IS) militant group.
He said he had been advised by a psychiatrist that the siege was "final posturing" by Monis in order to gain some "street cred" before a likely jail sentence.He said he had been advised by a psychiatrist that the siege was "final posturing" by Monis in order to gain some "street cred" before a likely jail sentence.
Monis had been facing dozens of sexual assault charges plus charges of being an accessory to the murder of his ex-wife.Monis had been facing dozens of sexual assault charges plus charges of being an accessory to the murder of his ex-wife.